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I bought this book for my 19 year old son. He had heard about it and now is always quoting things from it. He found it very,very intersting!

This book is an fascinating and entertaining peek into the real people we see on the big screen. The interviews are brief, one page each, and that is good and bad. Good because it can be read in short bites, bad because it leaves the reader wanting more. The "stars" are people too. This is a glimpse into who they are.

Have always enjoyed "The Meaning of Life" page on Esquire - and to see a large collection of these - and many that i've missed - in one book is just great!

So many different popular characters and personalities and interesting views on the ways of life.

I found this book very interesting. I found out a lot about people that I liked and learned about new ones as well. Very good book, light reading and fun. Highly recommend.

Opinions on some of life's most talked about subjects from past and present; writers, painters, musicians, politicians, actors, etc.... great stories and insightful views on religion, sex, faith, gender differences, relationships, etc..... easy to read and very witty. If your interested in what shapes extraordinary people into who they are then this book is for you. I loved it from the first page. I read this book from start to finish in one sitting. Thats a first.

I loved the Thomas Flanagan trilogy.
By chance, I believe I came across the primary source books for each of the three.
The Year of the French seems quite obviously informed and inspired by Thomas Pakenham's Year of Liberty, a novelistic but dense nonfiction recounting of the western uprising in 1798.
The End of the Hunt takes much of its feel from "The Big Fellow", Frank O'Connor's beautiful account of Michael Collins' revolutionary career.
If these two are obvious the third is less so:
The Tenants of Time builds very effectively upon the foundations of Micheal Davitt's book, "The Fall of Feudalism in Ireland." This book, by an 1867 Fenian who became a leader of the Land League movement and an obstructionist member of the British parliament, is rich in detail about the Land League and the parliamentary struggle of the late 1800's that shows up in the Flanagan book.
I recommend these books to readers who have finished the trilogy, just as I would recommend the trilogy to all.

Though I have not a drop of Irish ancestry I have long been fascinated by nineteenth century Irish history. The Green Flag: The Turbulent History of the Irish National Movement, by Robert Kee, was the best book I read in 1972, and The Parnell Tragedy, by Jules Abels, was the best book I read in 1974 (even tho it is not the best book on Parnell--F.S.L. Lyons' book, Charles Stewart Parnell, which I read 20 May 1979, is equally good and Robert Kee's The Laurel and the Ivy: The Story of Charles SAtewart Parnell and Irish Nationalism [which I read May 1, 1996] is better). This novel by Thomas Flanagan is written with a most authentic-seeming Irish touch, and the story takes us through the Fenian and Parnell years with a better story line than The Year of the French, the first volume in the trilogy, had for its period, the rising of 1798. Anyone who likes to absorb history by reading fiction could scarcely do better than read this book as to late nineteenth century Irish history.

"Tenants" begins on the eve of the Fenian uprising of 1867. We meet four young men and their compatriots as they train to confront the British and the Irish Constabulary and free Ireland -- or so they hope. There is Robert Delaney, shopkeeper and politician to be, Ned Nolan, a returning Irish-American whose hardline sympathies presage the IRS, Vincent Tully, squireen and future brother-in-law of Delaney, and Hugh McMahon, schoolteacher of Kilpeder.

But the uprising is only the beginning of their travels. After serving their time after the failed rebellion, we follow Hugh, Robert, Ned and Vincent through their lives and the history of Ireland in the late 1800s; Parnell and the Land League and the boycotts which nearly succeeded in driving the British out altogether and succeeded in breaking the backs, largely, of the Ascendency. It ends with Parnell's disgrace and downfall, and the deaths of two old friends.

Flanagan's writing has a lovely Irish flavor; it may be this, as much as the story itself, which holds so much pleasure for me.

An earlier reviewer complained that the path of one character's life too closely paralleled the more famous events which occurred in history. But rather than a flaw, I see that as the author's intent, bringing the historical events close and helping you see them from the inside through smaller characters rather than trying to put words in the mouths (not that he didn't do that anyway, to some extent) of the historical characters they represented.

Bob paralleled Parnell, rise, disgrace and fall; Vincent, the Anglo-Irish landowners whose life was disrupted for all time by Parnell's boycotts; Ned, those who found Parnell and his non-violent approach at best wrongheaded and at worst traitorous to Ireland; and Hugh stood outside it all as everyone else did, having some of the picture but not all, seeing it for us.

I bought this in an airport because I wanted something to read. It has become one of my favorite books ever.

"Tenants of Time", Flanagan's book between "Year of the French" and "End of the Hunt", deals with the Parnell era in Irish politics. But it is much more than that. Three men bound together by an act of failed rebellion in their early years, remain tied to one another and their actions on that day while a young historian tries to understand "a single moment in history" represented by that doomed rebellion.

The characters are large and complex, the ideas even bigger and the setting so evocative that you won't want the book to end.

Great literature that is also a great read. I really can't do the book justice. Read the first fifty pages and I bet you can't stop.

One minor complaint: Delaney's circumstances too closely mirrored Parnell's in the O'Shea debacle.

Spanning four decades of tense Irish history after the Famine years, Flanagan's tour de force masterfully weaves the life stories of four boyhood friends from County Cork whose adult lives result in different and conflicting choices regarding their roles in Irish society and politics. Together, they join the Fenian brotherhood in 1865, but the revolution's failure pushes them on divergent paths for fuller meaning in their lives. In exploring these developments, Flanagan expertly combines the characters' life challenges with the dramatice course of Irish history in the late Victorian era, presenting vivid depiction of the Fenian assassins, the agrarian struggles of the Land League, the rise and fall of Parnell, and the inevitable growth of Ireland into the modern era. Yet this striking panorama of Irish history never overshadows the rich and complex dynamic of the relationship between Hugh, Robert, Ned and Edward, whose struggles to find fortune and meaning in their world thrusts them into tragic internecine conflict. This is a novel you will never forget, and I would rank it among the best historical novels ever written.

This is an absolute must read. Honest and well written, this book gives a unique inside into the world of brands and fakes. This should be on everybody's must read list.

This book was a great read. What was the most fascinating to me was reading about other cultures. Sarah McCartney, you can tell, put a lot of time and research into this work, and it really shines with each chapter. Never one to buy fakes myself, this book gave me even more reasons not to do so. I recommend this book to anyone who has ever questioned themselves when buying real or fake luxury goods.

I may not have been McCartney's target audience here; I buy knockoffs of things all the time. Or should I say, bought. I always figured that you simply couldn't protect intellectual property if there was a cheap way of someone stealing it and making a profit, and furthermore, why should I pay a huge premium for the real thing just to have some brand name on it?

But reading this book was a great experience for me; Sarah personalizes exactly who and how it hurts for me to purchase knockoffs of nearly any product. She talks about exactly what pushes our brand buttons and tries to show us that the things pushing our brand buttons are often worth paying extra for (to buy the real thing). She also makes the point that though counterfeits and knockoffs are a cheap way of buying instant chic - we can try the newest styles at bargain bin prices - they not only compromise us morally but in many cases don't really satisfy the things that we are initially attracted to in the styles or designs. They can be cheaply made or of low-quality fabric, neither of which is really satisfying to wear, and in addition, many of the people who'd think you were cool for wearing something so stylish would know that you had a knockoff by the poor workmanship.

One of the most convincing points for me is the argument that the more of everything we buy, knockoffs and fakes, the more we have to work to pay for these items, and the less time we as individuals have to develop and enjoy our own creativity, and the experiences involved in making our own interesting clothing/ clothing combinations and exploring our creativity in other ways. She makes the point that the trade in knockoffs going on at stores contributes to all of us looking alike in a lot of ways, and that true creativity in design is becoming less common as people realize they can make money off other people's ideas without ever coming up with anything new themselves.

I don't want us all to look and dress alike, and so this was especially thought-provoking to think that maybe there is another model for thinking about what to buy. Well-made, interesting designs from smaller craftspeople can be less expensive than branded items but still of very high quality, and everybody and their mother won't be wearing anything similar. Do-it-yourself and items from small vendors are becoming the new chic in my eyes. I can feel morally good about the choice to spurn items that steal intellectually from others while supporting small businesses and artists, and the kind of cutting-edge creativity that makes the world a more interesting and satisfying place.

I bought this book because I know Sarah's writing as Auntie Pamela from the Lush Times catalogue (Lush.com), and I love her fun and down-to-earth voice. This book was a satisfying read and gave me some philosophical things to chew on as well as some solid information about marketing, business, the trade in knockoffs, and what exactly is driving me to buy. Highly recommended.

I read this book with a great deal of interest; the scale of knockoffs is both amazing and alarming, and Sarah McCartney's analysis is insightful without being preachy. Books on esoteric subjects are not always a good read, but this one is, and I'd recommend it to anyone with an interest in economics or fashion, humanities or capitalism.

For those of us who wonder why on earth anyone would buy cheaply-made Gucci knockoffs - much less who would actually go to the trouble of creating one - this book is a revelation. Ms. McCartney goes beyond the obvious motivations of greed and envy to present us the cause and effect of a not-quite-Louis-Vuitton fashion world. It's an interesting, well-paced book that I heartily recommend.

A quick plug for this book. I bought it because of the luscious photos, but the recipes I've tried have been mostly excellent. A few favorites are the "Chocolatey Rocky Road Brownies" (REALLY chocolatey brownies--I use walnuts instead of peanuts) and the "Pumpkin Cheesecake Bars" (substituted pumpkin pie spice for the spices), as well as an old favorite, which I've known previously as "Chocolate Oat Squares," but which is called "Naomi's Revel Bars" in this book. All of these have provoked much rapture and many recipe requests.

I generally do a little cheating/revising in just about any recipe I make just to align it with my and my family's tastes, but these have required only the most minor nudging. Most of the recipes are from scratch--not as many cake mix recipes or semi-prepared ingredients as you would expect from the title. Not to put down that type of recipe if that's what you like, but they do tend to become outdated as companies rearrange their product lines (Have you ever read an old Betty Crocker cookbook? Charming, but many of the BC ingredients are no longer available, at least where I am).

The photos are a big plus in this book. Very scrumptious, and they give you an idea of what you're actually making. I think they probably average just a little fewer than one photo for every two recipes and, to judge by the cookbooks I'm familiar with, this is a very good average.

This is not haute cuisine (whatever that is), simply good old-fashioned down-home baking--I suppose it could be called the comfort food of the dessert world. It has a great selection with lots of variety, but doesn't ignore the old favorites either.

I think I have a fairly good selection of baking and dessert cookbooks, but I often start out looking for ideas in the more "serious" books just to end up coming back to this loyal standby. For somebody looking for just one cookbook to meet most of their treat- and goody-making needs, this is a serious contender.

This is a great book. Sometimes when you bake, the final product doesn't look like the picture in the recipe, but with this book your desserts are going to look and taste like made by pros. The ingredients are easy to get, you are going to find very useful tips and the best of all, you're going to enjoy what ever you bake.

The recipies in this book are so simple. Great for the beginner baker in every home.

I've never had a baking book like this. It has a various collection of clear, detailed pictures. The recipes are extremely easy to follow and are so creative. Everything I've made has come out exactly like I thought, and exactly like the picture looks (and I'm a beginner-average baker). It has recipes for Cookies, Cookies Bars, Brownies, Cupcakes & Muffins, Cakes, Breads, Pies and much more!!! No cookbook collection would be complete without this book. As a matter of fact, if you're going to buy 1 baking cookbook, make it this one! Recently for our Memorial Day Picnic I made "Watermelon Slices"! They were so cute! It's a sugar cookie with chocolate sprinkles (to give the appearance of seeds) and it was so easy to make!!! My kids (and sometimes my husband!) love to flip through the pages and just drool over what dessert I'm making next. Great book and trust me, I'm sure you'll love it!!!

This book is full of all sorts of delicious desserts that you could use at a bake sale or to share with others. This book is broken down into several categories; Chock-full of chips, cookie jar favorites, bar cookie bonanza, best selling brownies, classic cupcakes and muffins, crowd pleasing cakes, Quick breads and coffee cakes, and plentiful pies. The book is filled with beautiful photography. Recipes are easy to follow. You can't beat this book for easy to make desserts.

Excellent book for a beginner. A step by step approach is taken and each step gives you a small project to work on. Overall, this is one of the best books that I was able to follow and learn the beginning steps of enamelling on my own.

this was a very good book for learning enamelling techniques. The book includes good pictures and advices. In Finland we have nothing like that in Finnish language so first we have to learn english and then try to translate all those ways to enamel. There are so many amazing books for jewellery workers in english and this was one of them.

It is everything I need to know about enamaling. I found this book to be extremely helpful in buying products to start enameling. Iis has great pictures and explanations. Good projects. I learned alot from this book before I took my first class.

Linda

This is a very good starting book to answer questions about what you need to know and have and also do to get started in enamel. This will be a reference book you will keep if you choose to continue in the craft. This book on the craft of enameling. Is up to her other works in the jewelry/metal art fields. It starts out to ground the newbie in the basics. The publisher also chimes in with the standard warnings about materials and equipment. My only warning is if you have no uncommon sense, please take up something else. She covers intro to enameling, equipment and materials and working with enamels. Moving on to seven easy type projects that you can make changes to if they do not suit you. All without loosing any of the instruction. Then moves on to some more techniques. Following up with seven more projects. Ending with a couple of pages of troubleshooting info which a lot of craft books lack. A glossary and the resource guides.
The pictures are clear, crisp and in color. With only enough work table shown for balance. They are of a size that gives a good visual of the descriptions along with the numbers on both. The gallery pages are dispersed thru the book. With an assortment of Jinks and other artists work. I own it I am planning on keeping it.

Great book, has just the amount of instructions to help you get started.

I picked up this book to browse, not really knowing what to expect. The title seemed like one of those "secrets-of-writing"-type books that offer nothing new.

In reality, I had just inadvertently picked up the most influential book of my writing career.

This isn't a book about HOW to write, such as character development, writing technique or grammar usage, marketing, etc. This book is about the EMOTIONS that writers must deal with, and ways to cope successfully.

For instance, "Virginia Woolf suffered 'acute nervous tension' whenever she neared the end of a novel."

And...

"One friend of mine has been working on her book for nearly fifteen years. She even went to a therapist to learn why finishing it felt like death."

Still yet...

"Many writers, I suppose, are not 'born writers.' They work. On the other hand, what my sister did not understand is the obsession to create. Writers need to write. That's why you panic at the completion of a play or novel. When you aren't writing you aren't certain you exist."

The text is packed with information about famous writers, their habits, their emotions, how they lived--or sometimes died because of NOT coping successfully with the emotional roller-coaster that is a writer's life.

If all my books were lost in a natural disaster, this is the FIRST one I would replace--because it's the only book that truly discusses what living a "writer's life" REALLY means--'the ecstacy and the agony'.

However, unlike the title suggests, "For Writers Only", this book is essential reading for anyone who LOVES a writer, as it explains what the writer is going through emotionally during the various stages of writing.

Not all writers feel these emotions. As Ms. Burhham notes above, some writers just work. But, for those of us who equate writing with breathing, read this book!

This book is an outstanding source of inspiration and encouragement to writers of any age or at any stage of their writing career. Unlike many 'how to' books I've read, this one does not tell give tips on style, grammar or content. It does provide the reader with the incentive to continue writing and never give up. It makes one realize that we are not alone. Even the greatest of authors has suffered from Writers Block, despair and discouragement. At the age of five I said, "When I grow up, I'm going to be a writer." Well into my teens, I was an avid reader and dabbled in writing every spare moment I had. When it was time for college, I majored in Journalism and was active in writing for the school newspaper. However, as a young adult, I got caught up with 'the real world' and due to lack of inspiration, time constraints, and countless other excuses, I never realized my dream. Finally, in the Autumn of my years my first novel is well underway and I anticipate a completion date by the summer of 2000. Sophy Burnham's book has given me the inspiration to pursue my dream. My highest recommendation to ALL writers regardless of whether they are just beginning their endeavor or are already successful authors.

If you could only read one book on writing, this would be the one. A friend gave this book to me several years ago, and I've used it for inspiration more than any other book on writing that I own... and I own a lot of books on writing.

I'm using it in a workshop this weekend and I'll recommend it to the people there, as I recommend it to every person who thinks they want to write.

I have read others books by the author and throughly enjoyed them. However, when it came to this book I was doubtful. I have read so many books about how to write or about writing; they were either boring, dry, or not helpful. This book was not boring or dry and it was extremely helpful. I could not put this book down; I highly recommend this book to any one who is interested in writing.

Not a how-to book but infinitely satisfying, Ms. Burnham deals with the emotional phases that writers share. She punctuates her experiences (written in brief stand-alone paragraphs, suitable to dipping into on any page) with quotes by other writers and artists. Uplifting, encouraging, helpful, I would recommend this book for every writer at any stage in his/her career.

This is simply the best written general introduction to ceremonial magick in the English language. It can be used for self-study by anyone who is reasonably intelligent and diligent - although you will also need other books by the same authors - at least the other two volumes in the "Magical Philosophy" series. In particular "Foundations" includes a "course of study" at the back of the book which can guide you step by step through your "training".

Two criticisms should be noted. First, the authors are too influenced by Christianity. This is really a shame, because one of the great strengths of the book is that it helps the reader to begin to understand the philosophical basis for ceremonial magick. That philosophical basis is the Pagan philosophy of Plato, and later attempts by Christians to appropriate Platonism should never be confused with "the real thing." Nevertheless, the "Christianizing" tendencies of the authors do not run too deeply - so it is more of an annoyance than anything else, as long as you know better. The other criticism is that like most Llewellyn books this DOESN'T HAVE AN INDEX. This is really a very serious, at times difficult book. One will want to come back time and again to many parts of it. It is really a pain that there is no index!!!!!!

This is a great primer for those who are just beginning their studies in magick. This book explains a lot. I have benn a magickal person for over 15 years and I enjoyed this book. Be aware this book is not on the hermetics or Thelema it is on the ogdodic tradition. I would recommend this book to anyone on any path of magick. Unlike some authers Denning and Phillips do not mess with the readers head. Instead they make things as clear as possible. Its mostly a lecture book so if you are looking for loads and loads of rituals you wont find it in here. But nevertheless it is a serious book, one that will help you understand the powers of magick more better. Also the book is also great since there is no useless dribble.

Actually, one of the three most treasured, the others being the "Sword and the Serpent" and "Mysteria Magica", representing the (hopefully) forthcoming volumes 2 and 3 of the "Magical Philosophy" series of which this is the first.

Almost everything concievable is explained thoroughly in these books, and the first volume is perhaps the most illuminating. Unlike other texts which simply say "this is so", Denning and Phillips literally walk you through the reasons behind various magical correspondences on the Tree of Life (the theories presented here are basically Kabalistic ones, with just a light amount of Enochian). Ever wonder why the astrological signs are associated with certain paths on the Tree, and certian Tarot cards associated with the signs/paths, as well? Denning and Phillips lay it out for you, step by step, so that you come away with an understanding that won't fade as time goes by.

When I first purchased these volumes back in 1991, I had almost no background in magick whatsoever. While the latter two volumes may indeed be a bit advanced, the first should be required reading for any magickal study (or even a simple mystical study of the Tree of Life). By the end of the first volume, the latter two will no longer be out of the reach of your comprehension.

Highly, highly recommended works. For that matter, everything by either author meets a similarly high standard. If it's by Denning and Phillips, read it!

There are many books availiable for those who wish to learn the way of ritual magick- but few books for those who wish to learn the philosophy behind it, without having to contend with the opinions of often overbearing (Crowley), dogmatic (Fortune), muddle-headed (Regardie), or overly cautious (Kraig) writers. This book not only teaches pure Qabalistic and Hermetic thought, but insightfully and lucidly ties in connections to Oriental, Native American, and even the often overlooked ideas of those anomalous American Transcendentalists, such as Emerson and Whitman. There's no strange yoga, badly-translated words of mystic power, or misunderstood mythology- only the finest piece of magical literature availiable today. If you're a psychologist interested in exploring the transpersonal realms, a layperson wanting to explore spirituality beyond the confines of exoteric religion, a pagan interested in exploring a more reason-oriented spirituality, or even a chaos mage (like myself) searching for answers- this book is for you. Buy it and see for yourself.

This book is quite simply the most concise and insightful summary of the Western mystical philosophy that you're going to find out there. "Foundations of High Magick" explains the symbolism, correspondences, and theory behind mystical self-development in a way that the entire library of Llwelyn and other Golden Dawn-inspired books cannot begin to approach. For those of us that have struggled to find a simple, logical explanation of the theory behind the mystical systems, this book does so in an unparalleled fashion. If anyone has ever tried to sort through the Chokmah in Binah of Assiah (and other such mysteriously muddle-some correspondences upon correspondences ad nauseum) for any length of time, Denning and Phillips have provided a welcome relief! This book doesn't just present the symbols and correspondences: it literally takes the reader on a fascinating tour of these strange new worlds. The authors are knowledgeable guides throughout, spinning an amazing tale that seamlessly combines history, psychology and legend.

Readers who have tried and failed to make sense of Regardie and Crowley's muddled exposition of these ideas will be very grateful to Denning and Phillips for this clear-headed account. The prospective reader should note that this is a theoretical volume, and specific rituals are discussed in the later two volumes of this series. However, I would not necessarily recommend those volumes, because the rituals Denning and Phillips outline are quite similar to those of the Golden Dawn, which can be found elsewhere. In fact, insofar as the Golden Dawn rituals are not literally written in Greek, I find them to be far more comprehensible and useful. But this volume is definitely a solid investment.

quick, easy read and gave me some insight into what kind of salesman i might be, as well as what kind i would ideally strive to be

Starting out in sales and wonder if it's right for you?
BUY THIS BOOK

At the sales game for a while but wondering if it's right for you?
BUY THIS BOOK

Managing a sales force and wondering how best to handle the team and what to do next?
BUY THIS BOOK

I read about 20 business books a year. This book has made a remarkable impact on me.

I have personally tested the " kinds " written in this easy to read book as a professional sales trainer and consulted some 20 professional sales people, all with solid sales experiences of some 300 customers or a minimum of some 100 new customers per year. The " kinds " identify themselves easily and approve all other " kinds " with numerous colorful examples. The kinds are proven and they are all out there in the field. Buy this book, you need an hour or so to read through and end up with a very useful insight. Chuck shall keep writing on that, maybe on the kinds of sales managers this time.

We are all sales people. This is an excellent book not just for the real estate sales person. but for anyone who interacts with customers and other sales people in your organization. It has helped me to motivate my sales staff in a more positive manner. An easy read and full of very helpful information.

Todd Setzer
[...]

Most sales books are about tactics and techniques. The problem with that approach, however, is that salespeople are looking for the "quick fix" that will get them to success overnight. They're trying to put together their outer game without first getting their inner game in order.

This book makes that leap and achieves what no other sales book has - it shows you who you are as a salesperson and what will make YOU successful.

As one of those sales authors who is guilty of teaching a long series of tactics & techniques, I'm recommending that all salespeople read this book first to find out who they are before diving into the tactics side of selling.

And as I mentioned in the headline, this isn't just for salespeople. Let's face it - everyone in business, from salespeople to C-level executives to small business owners to independent professionals - must sell in one form or another and would benefit greatly from this book. Get it now, read it, learn it, and implement it.

This book has been checked out from the library at least 10 times before we found a copy of our own. We also have another David Peters favorite in "Strange Creatures", and can't wait to get a copy of our own. I only wish that someone would put out a new edition of the books, so we could get them new. With the scale pictures, and the wonderful drawings, it keeps our 8 year old reading for hours (and it has since she was 5). If you get a chance to get your hands on one, grab it.

This incredible book first caught my eye in the school library when I was in 4th grade; this same book is now found fascinating by my children ages 6 and 7. The illustrations are beautiful and the text is written in a way that even a young reader would understand. I find it really saddening that the book is out of print, because I would really like to replace the well-worn copy that I have handed down to my kids. Trust me, this is a book that you can certainly pass down for future generations to enjoy (no exageration)!!!!

This is a book that transcends generational barriers and age barriers in language and content. I got this book when I was eight and the way Peters fluidly coalesced extinct and extant creatures into one book influenced my entire outlook on life! I still refer to the book in university now that I'm an ecology major.

This book, although texted for the 10-15 yer old reader, is excellent enough to be enjoyed by readers of all ages. It briefly examines all manner of large creatures, both extinct and living, and by full-color, scaled drawings, with a man and and woman for visualization, shows how truly huge such things as apatosaurs and blue whales really could be. One of the interesting features is that each and every creature is drawn in the same scale, so such things as triceratops and modern rhinos, and mammoths and elephants and tyrannosaurs, may be compared. You will receive some surprises. I recommend this book to all readers.

When my boys were in grade school, they LOVED this book. Now they are in high school and college and they still love it! It is filled with wonderful illustrations drawn to scale and an informative easy to read text. A delightful book for all ages.

This book has certainly become a treasure to my girlfriends and I. Our dear friend Loretta had to leave us, she died of cancer. Her story is in this book on page 20. Lauren Cowen and Jayne Wexler have done such a supurb job recapturing her spirit on paper. This tribute alone indicates the tenderness and compassion shown in their artistic talent for conveying the everlasting bond of girlfriends. Many of the stories contained in this book remind us of our soul's thirst for love of our female friends. Famous or not, rich or poor our needs are the same.Each story will touch your heart. Take my advice and cherish your girlfriends while they are here.

I recently purchased the book "Girlfriends" by Jayne Wexler and Lauren Cowen for my girlfriend. She had recently lost her best friend from childhood to cancer, so I thought the book would be theraputic for her. I couldn't have been more right! She treasures this book. The images captured by Jayne Wexler are poignant and Lauren Cowen's words will certainly strike a chord with any woman who has ever had or has a very special friend. I had purchased their earlier book, "Daughters and Mothers" as a Mothers Day gift for my Mom and know how much it meant to her. Wexler and Cowen seem to have a keen insight into what matters to women--and express it beautifully in both pictures and words. Either of these books would make a great gift for any woman.

It is refreshing to see a coffee table book that has not only wonderful pictures, but inspiring stories. Lauren Cowen has captured the essence of the female spirit across the ages. It exemplifies the many different sides and interests of women. All share the common bond of female camaraderie. These stories depict real women who in their daily lives support each other. I was truly inspired by the group of women who courageously took care of their dying friend. Their bond with each other appears so strong that it transcends death. This would be an exceptional human interest story to pursue. These women are not famous, but truly rich in their caring and compassion for each other.

From the moment I saw the cover I knew that "Girlfriends" would be a beautiful book to hold, peruse, read, and give as gifts to the women in my life whom I call my bosom buddies. The photography is stunning and evocative, the words reflective of what it means to be a female. Simple and solid, "Girlfriends" reminds us of how little it takes to anchor us in a commercialized world that suggests we need more.

this is a great book to give to your best friends for the holidays- the stories are unique and the photos are spectacular- you can read one story every day for inspiration.